A printable bandage system including a non-stick sheet and at least one bandage removably secured to the non-stick sheet. The bandage includes a printable portion configured to receive the printing of an image thereon.
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7. A bandage system comprising:
a non-stick sheet;
a bandage having a pad portion and a pair of securing strips extending outwardly from opposite sides of the pad portion, with each securing strip comprising a non-adhesive side and an adhesive side wherein the adhesive side is removably secured to the non-stick sheet, and
a protective cover extending over an outer edge of the bandage and having an outer edge removably secured against the non-stick sheet and an at least one inner edge defining a removable seal in contact against at least one of the pad portion and the non-adhesive side of the securing strips to protect a periphery of the pad portion, wherein the at least one inner edge defines an aperture in the protective cover to expose a portion of the bandage.
1. A printable bandage system comprising:
a non-stick sheet; and
a bandage removably secured to the non-stick sheet, the bandage including an outer edge, a first adhesive side and a second non-adhesive side, the first adhesive side including a pad and being removably secured to the non-stick sheet and the second non-adhesive side including a printable portion configured to receive the printing of an image thereon; and
a protective cover including a body, an inner edge, and an outer edge with the inner edge of the cover removably sealed against the second non-adhesive side of the bandage, the body of the cover extending over the substantially the entire outer edge of the bandage, the outer edge of the cover removably sealed against the non-stick sheet, and the inner edge of the cover defining an aperture exposing the printable portion of the second non-adhesive side of the bandage to enable printing of an image on the printable portion through the aperture.
6. A printable bandage system comprising:
a non-stick sheet including a plurality of separable portions; and
a plurality of bandages removably secured to the non-stick sheet in a generally parallel, spaced arrangement with one bandage disposed on each separable portion of the non-stick sheet, each bandage including a centrally located pad and a pair of securing portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of the pad, each bandage defining a first adhesive side and a second non-adhesive side with the pad being fixed on the first adhesive side of the bandage, and the first adhesive side being removably secured to the non-stick sheet; and
a protective cover including a generally rectangular-shaped body and an outer edge, the body sized, shaped, and positioned so that the outer edge of the cover extends across the plurality of bandages so that the outer edge of the cover generally encompasses the pad of each bandage, the outer edge of the cover removably sealed against both the second non-adhesive side of the bandage and the non-stick sheet between the spaced bandages, thereby exposing the securing portions of the second non-adhesive side of each bandage for printing of an image on the exposed securing portions while maintaining sterility of the pad.
2. The bandage system of
wherein the system further comprises a plurality of bandages, including the bandage, with each bandage removably secured to a corresponding separable portion of the non-stick sheet and each bandage including an outer edge, a first adhesive side and a second non-adhesive side, the first adhesive side including a pad and being removably secured to the non-stick sheet and the second non-adhesive side including a printable portion configured to receive the printing of an image thereon,
wherein the system further comprising a plurality of protective covers, including the protective cover, with each protective cover including an inner edge, an outer edge, and a body, the inner edge of each cover removably sealed against the second non-adhesive side of each bandage, the body of each cover extending over the substantially the entire outer edge of each bandage, the outer edge of each cover removably sealed against the non-stick sheet, and the inner edge of each cover defining an aperture exposing the printable portion of the second non-adhesive side of each bandage to enable printing of an image on the printable portion of each bandage through the aperture.
3. The bandage system of
4. The bandage system of
5. The bandage system of
8. The bandage system of
9. The bandage system of
10. The bandage system of
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The present invention relates to bandages and in particular to printable bandages.
The entertainment industry has spread its reach to virtually every aspect of life. Previously mundane objects such as bandages now bear graphic images such as Mickey Mouse® characters from Disney®. Decorated bandages are fun for kids and can help kids overcome fear and discomfort associated with an injury covered by the decorated bandages. However, large media conglomerates, in cooperation with bandage manufacturing companies, exclusively control which images are carried on the bandages.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a printable bandage system which includes a non-stick sheet and at least one bandage removably secured to the non-stick sheet. The bandage includes a printable portion configured to receive the printing of an image thereon.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
As shown in
Pad 44 preferably includes any pad used in bandages such as a gauze-like material, whether absorbent or non-absorbent, and that is secured to backing 40.
Non-stick surface 50 of sheet 22 preferably is made from a non-stick coating so that upon application of adhesive side 42 of bandage 24, bandage 24 is releasably secured to non-stick surface 50 of sheet 22. This arrangement permits bandage 24 to be peeled off from sheet 22 when desired. Optional adhesive portion 52 is provided on sheet 22 when it is desired to removably secure pad 44 against sheet 22. However, this is not normally necessary because bandage 24 typically is sufficiently secured with adhesive side 42 against sheet 22.
After printing images onto bandages 24, printer 32 ejects sheet 22 with printed bandages 24 from printer 32. Next, at a desired time, the consumer peelingly removes one or more bandages 24 from sheet 22 for placement on a wound. Since the printed image 26 is on non-adhesive side 41 of each bandage 24, upon application of bandage 24 to a wound, bandage 24 will display printed image 26.
With the exception of copyrighted material, a consumer has unlimited freedom to print virtually any image 26 onto the bandages. With advent of digital photography, consumer could even print images 26 such as photographs of family, places, pets, etc. onto bandages. This could personalize bandages to bear an image 26 (such as a photo) of the wearer of bandage as well as an image 26 of a mother or father of the wearer of bandage.
As shown in
System 70 further comprises cover 80 including body 82 and seams 84. Cover 80 conveniently extends in a strip across all pads 74 of bandages 72. Cover 80 is provided for sealing pad 74 of bandages 72 from unwanted elements such as dust, germs, etc. In addition, cover 80 protects pad 74 and maintains the sterility of bandages 72 during printing of images 76 onto bandages 72 as sheet 71 passes through a printer. Cover 80 includes the same perforations 73 shown in sheet 71 so that each bandage 72 with sheet 71 and its portion of cover 80 can be separated from other bandages 72 for individual use.
Cover 110 includes body 111, outer edge 112 and inner edge 114. Cover 110 is positioned over edge 108 of bandage 104 to seal edge 108 of bandage 104. Inner edge 114 defines aperture 116 so that non-adhesive side 117 of bandage 104 is partially exposed to receive printing of image 106 on bandage 104. Image 106 can be placed anywhere along the exposed portions of non-adhesive side 117.
Bandages 104 are further illustrated in
Cover 160 includes body 161, outer edge 162, and inner edge 164. Inner edge 164 defines aperture 166. Cover 160 has substantially the same features and attributes as cover 110, as previously described in association with
Bandage 154 is further illustrated in
As shown in
A system and method for printing images on bandages has numerous advantageous features. Foremost, one can print any desired image on a bandage by feeding a sheet of bandages through a printer. The consumer is no longer limited to purchasing bandages with previously printed images, such as Mickey Mouse® characters, from a retail store. Rather, the consumer can print any custom graphic image of their choosing on one or more bandages. In addition, the sheet of printable bandages includes an optional protective cover for maintaining the sterility and/or cleanliness of the bandages before, during, and after printing of the images on the bandages. The protective cover can alternatively cover the edges of bandages, the pad, the non-adhesive backing portions of the bandages, or any combination thereof, so that a desired portion of the bandage is exposed for printing of the images on the bandage while covering other portions of the bandage.
While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the chemical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, electrical, and computer arts will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the preferred embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
May 20 2002 | REIDER, BARRY JAMES | Hewlett-Packard Company | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 013173 | /0757 | |
May 31 2002 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Jan 31 2003 | Hewlett-Packard Company | HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L P | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 013776 | /0928 |
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